Window screen



Aug. 30, 1938. A. LANG WINDOW SCREEN Filed April 18, 1956 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE wmnow some:

I Albert Lang, Berkeley, (lalif. Application April 1a, 1936, Serial No. 15,133

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which may be formed from a single strip of metal with but one joint therein.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a metallic window screen of light construction having inherent screen tension retaining means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and novel form of means for making a joint in metallic screens of the type having a screen fabric retaining channel and a wedging means extending around one side thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel form of screen securing means for a screen frame of the type having a screen fabric receiving channel extending around one side thereof.

In the prior art there are a number of examples of metallic screen frames which are formed by folding a strip of metal to provide a channel along one side thereof into which the screen fabric and a screen retaining rod may be disposed. Examples of this construction are shown in William J Baker Patent No. 1,004,721, dated October 3, 1911; Clifford Traut Patent No.-

1,18'7,402, dated June 13, 1916; and Henry Higgin Patent No. 1,248,858, dated December 4, 1917. In each of these patents the frames are formed by cutting the .frame forming strips into four pieces and joining the corners by welding or other means. As disclosed in each of the above patents it is also necessary with the construction illustrated to provide a right angle reinforcing corner piece..

'As distinguished'from the constructions illustrated in the above cited patents, the present invention provides a screen which can be formed with'a continuous channel extending therearound from a continuous strip of metal with but one joint in the completed frame. The present invention also embodies the further novel feature of a .screen securing rod which, in addition to securing the screen fabric upon the frame, .also imparts improved screen tensioning characteristics-into the completed screen frame. This makes possible the formation of a screen frame of light construction which can be made of greater dimensions than has heretofore been possible with a screen of this character, and at the same time, since a minimum of parts and assembly operations are required to complete the screen, the cost thereof in both labor and materials is greatly reduced.

4 For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation, preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view taken at the comer of a window screen showing the construction thereof,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the back of a screen, also taken at a corner, showing the position of the screen retaining means and the manner of mitre cutting the frame forming strip for the corner bend, I

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary perspective views showing an improved means for securing together the abutting ends of a finished screen frame, I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a screen constructed in accordance with the present invention secured upon the sash ofa metal casement window, and

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 show various forms of the improved screen securing and tensioning means contemplated by this invention.

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the screen constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a sheet metal frame member I0 upon which a screen fabric II is secured by means of a-securing rod I2. The securing rod i2 is preferably of one continuous piece with right angle bends at its corners. This rod I! may consist of a number of separate rods providing the separate pieces include a substantially right angle bend which extends around each corner of the frame 10. The frame Ill is formed by folding a metal strip of cold drawn steel along its longitudinal axis so as to provide a channel in one side thereof. This channel, designated by the numeral i3, in Figure 2 of the drawing, is of a width and depth suflicient to accommodate the edge of the screen fabric II and the securing rod l2. The channel I3 is formed by folding the frame forming strip so that it will have an inside flange l4 and an outside flange I 5. For stiffness, the frame l0 also has an outwardly extending flange l6 which is adapted to engage the surface upon which the screen is to be secured. In forming the frame ill the metal strip will be first folded in the above manner as a continuous piece and subsequently four mitre cuts I! will be made therein by any suitable means. These mitre cuts will extend through the inside flange It and the bottom 'portion of the channel I3 at the desired points to form the corners of the frame III. In connection with each mitre cut i1 it is to be noted that the flange l5 and the flange it of the screen frame iii are left intact for bending and consequently no welding or other form of joint is required at the corner of the screen frame, as is the case in all prior art metal screens.

After the frame forming strip has been folded longitudinally and provided with the four mitre cuts II corresponding in location to the corners of the screen and finally bent up into rectangular form, it will provide a frame having a continuous channel l3 extending entirely around one side thereof into which the securing means or rod l2 may be pressed over the edges of the screen fabric ll. After the screen frame ID has been formed, and before the screen fabric l I is applied ing strip. As here illustrated, the abutting ends of the frame it are held in alignment and secured together by means of aclip l8 which extends around the outside of the channel i3 formed in the frame It. This clip I8 has an outwardly extending fiange l9 which provides rigidity and it is secured upon the screen frame by a crimping 20' in the opposed sides thereof. This crimping 20 extends into the side flanges it and if of the channel I3. The crimping 20 is accomplished by placing a suitable die within the channel l3 and applying pressure through suitable punches to the opposite outside surfaces of the clip i8. After the clip i8 has been thus secured upon a finished frame, the screen fabric H can be placed thereupon with its edges extending over the channel l3 and secured in place by pressing the securing rod l2 into the channel I3 over the edges of the screen fabric.

In Figure 5 of the drawing, there is shown a casement window frame 2| having an outswing: ing sash 22 of the type to which the screen herein described is particularly applicable. As here shown, the flange l6 of the screen frame It rests upon the'fiange surface of the casement frame 2 l and is there held by suitable clips. These clips may take a number of forms. As shown, they consist of two spaced upwardly extending clips 23 behind which the bottom of the frame it! is adapted to restyand at the top of the screen there is a single centrally located clip 24 which is secured upon the casement frame 2! by means of a thumbscrew 25 so that it may be released and rotated to permit removal and placement of the screen over the window opening.

A comparison of the screen construction described and illustrated by this application with the constructions illustrated by the above identified prior art. will show that the frame of the present invention is considerably lighter than any heretofore proposed and therefore in order to provide against an inward bowing of the frame l0 between its corners, by reason of any pull exerted thereupon by the screen fabric, the present invention also contemplates a specially formed screen fabric securing rod I! which will reinforce the frame it between its corners and exert an outward force upon the frame which will counteract any inward pull or tension that is imparted to the screen fabric by a stretching thereof during the assembly operation. This latter feature of I the invention may be applied to the screen frame tively light frame i0, consists in bowing the screen fabric retaining rod I! so that it will possess an inherent outward bias when assembled in the frame l2 and thus exert a force upon the frame Hi which will maintain the screen fabric taut between the corners of the frame and at the same time reinforce the frame at these points and at the corners.

As shown in Figure 6 of the drawing, the screen retaining rod I2 is shown as formed of a single piece of metal and with four substantially right angle bends therein at properly located points. Between these right angle bends the rod I2 is provided with a slight outward bowing so that when released the rod will take substantially the position illustrated in this figure of the drawing. With the rod formed in this manner, it will be seen that when it is squared by being placed into the channel I3 of a corresponding frame, the sides thereof will have an inherent outward bias which will impart a corresponding stiffness to the frame Ill between its corners.

In Figure 7' of the drawing, the securing rod is first formed as last above described, and then squared and butt-welded at the meeting ends 26 of the rod 12, before it is inserted into its cooperating frame III.

In Figure 8 of the drawing, there is shown a securing rod construction which is particularly adapted to long narrow screens. As here shown, the rod is formed with long sides 21 bowed outwardly and the portions thereof corresponding to the ends of the frame are left straight. This provides a securing rod which will impart the additional stiffness required along the long dimension of the screen.

In Figure 9 of the drawing, there is shown a modification of the last described arrangement, wherein two separate rods 28 and 29 are used. In this embodiment the ends of the rods 28 and 29 extend lengthwise of the screen frame and are normally disposed at a slight outward angle so that when they are pressed into the rectangular frame channel IS, the ends thereof will exert an outward force which will compensate for and counteract any inward force exerted upon the side of the frame It by the screen fabric I I, and as a result the screen .fabric will be held taut throughout the length of the screen after it has been secured upon the frame II.

In Figure 10 of the drawing, there is showna further modification of the latter arrangement, wherein the securing rod is formed of four separate members 30, each of which extends around one of the corners of the screen frame II. The ends of the securing members 30 are normally disposed at an outwardly extending angle slighty greater than degrees, so that when they are pressed into the right angle channel upon the frame l0, they will exert an outward force upon the screen frame Ill intermediate its corners and counteract any frame collapsing force which might be exerted upon the frame by the screen fabric.

While I hav for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and it is desired to claim it so that all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A metallic frame for window screens, comprising a ribbon-like strip of metal folded longitudinally to form a. groove of rectangular cross section along one side thereof, said frame having corners formed by cutting a mitre through said groove by cutting only the bottom and the inner groove forming side of said strip and bending the uncut portion of said strip at the other wall of the groove at a right angle parallel to the plane of said groove, said strip having four mitre cuts and right angle bends formed intermediate its ends and having its ends abutting between two of the corners to form the frame,-

and a channel-like clip telescoping over the abutting ends of the strip having its side walls crimped into the outsides of the groove formed in the frame.

2. In a metallic screen, the combination of a sheet metal frame of rectangular outline having a continuous groove formed in one side thereof, a screen fabric disposed upon said frame with its edges extending into said groove, and a wedging means pressed into said groove over the edges of said screen for securing the screen upon said frame, said means having portions corresponding to the ends and sides of the screen bent outwardly and producing an inherent outward bias in said frame to compensate for the tension exerted upon said frame between its corners by the screen.

3. In a metallic screen, the combination of a sheet metal frame of rectangular outline having a continuous groove formed in one side thereof, a screen fabric disposed upon saidframe with its edges extending into said groove, and a wedging means extending around each corner of the frame and pressed into said groove over the edges.

of said screen for securing the screen upon said frame, said wedging means having the portions thereof between the four corners of the frame bent outwardly and producing an inherent outward bias in said frame and maintaining the screen fabric under tension between the corners of the screen frame.

tinuous rod bent to normally conform to the groove in said frame and pressed into said groove over the edges of. said screen for securing the screen upon said frame, said rod having its corner forming portions bent at substantially a right angle and its remaining portions bowed outwardly, whereby said" rod will produce an inherent outward bias in the sides of the frame to counteract the tension exerted by the screen upon said frame between its corners.

5. In a metallic screen, the combination of a sheet metal frame of rectangular outline having a continuous groove formed in one side thereof, a screen fabric disposed upon said frame with its edges extending into said groove, and a rectangular ring adapted to conform to the groove in said frame when pressed into said groove over the edges of said screen fabric to secure the screen upon said frame, said rectangular ring lation between two of the corners of its rectangular outline, and a channel-like clip secured externally upon the channel-like section of said frame and overlapping the abutting ends of said frame forming member, said clip being secured to the ends of said frame forming member by crimping the sides of said clip into the outside walls of said channel-like section in close proximity with the bottom of the groove formed thereby.

'I. In a metal window screen of the type having a frame with a continuous channel into which the edges of a screen fabric are secured, a screen fabric upon said frame, a screen fabric securing means in said channel extending aroundand reinforcing each corner of the screen frame having portions which exert an outward force upon the screen frame between its corners to counteract the tension of the screen fabric at the sides and ends of said frame.

ALBERT LANG. 

